Student's involvement in Felix

[fredleander]

Hi, there!

Would anyone know of a good source for Student's involvement in Operation Felix - the planned assault on Gibraltar..? Also, the OOB if any of the FJ' units were earmarked for the operation. Any threads here?

Does Student write anything on this in his own book?

Fred

[fredleander]

Reading up on Student an received a book by Farrar-Hockley: Kurt Student General der Fallschirmtruppen. Anybody read this, is it reliable?

I was a little perplexed when the first picture was texted: Am 10.5.40 kamen die Fallschirmjäger zum ersten Male zum Kriegseinsatz, showing a drop from the Ju52 over Holland.

To my knowledge their first effort was in Norway. The Norwegian campaign is covered in a few lines and it is stated that the Jägers dropped at Dombås were captured by the British, when in fact it was Norwegian troops that captured them. Their einsatz at Narvik is not mentioned at all. Doesn't bode well...

[Stabsfeldwebel]

Hi Fred,

you´re correct! I think that people always see the action against Eben Emael as the first FJ operation but this wasn´t a drop only a glider action.

Regards

Ulrich

[Ypenburg]

Reading up on Student an received a book by Farrar-Hockley: Kurt Student General der Fallschirmtruppen. Anybody read this, is it reliable?

I was a little perplexed when the first picture was texted: Am 10.5.40 kamen die Fallschirmjäger zum ersten Male zum Kriegseinsatz, showing a drop from the Ju52 over Holland.

To my knowledge their first effort was in Norway. The Norwegian campaign is covered in a few lines and it is stated that the Jägers dropped at Dombås were captured by the British, when in fact it was Norwegian troops that captured them. Their einsatz at Narvik is not mentioned at all. Doesn't bode well...

The original book was written in Englisch, if I'm correct you have a 1983-printed German translation. So the translator could have made a mistake, on the other hand I'm not impressed by most of the FJ-books. Most use the older books as sources, do not use primairy sources or start new investigations, and thus copy-cat errors. Could be the same with this book.

Let's be happy we have some real grogs here

[fredleander]

Hi Fred,

you´re correct! I think that people always see the action against Eben Emael as the first FJ operation but this wasn´t a drop only a glider action.

Regards

Ulrich

Well, there were other drops in Holland that morning.

I read a funny story somewhere regarding Eben Emael, that only one of the participants did not receive the Iron Cross for the operation. He had been drunk, riding on one of the twin 12 cm. gun barrels in the center of the fortress during the fight. Anybody else seen this written anywhere?

Well, the book got better. I was really looking for some info on Student's involvement in Felix and Herkules.

[fredleander]

The original book was written in Englisch, if I'm correct you have a 1983-printed German translation. So the translator could have made a mistake, on the other hand I'm not impressed by most of the FJ-books. Most use the older books as sources, do not use primairy sources or start new investigations, and thus copy-cat errors. Could be the same with this book.

Let's be happy we have some real grogs here

Thank you, Farrar-Hockley didn't seem to be quite up to par on Crete, either.

[zorreke]

Eben Emael and it's bridges

Dear Ulrich

Eben Emael is not only the fortress, but also the bridges of Kanne, Vroenhoven and Veldwezelt. On the bridges was indeed at first a glider action, but on the same day also drop actions.
So be sure it's not only a glider action !!!

greetings

Rudi
conservator Fortress Eben Emael

[Stabsfeldwebel]

Dear Ulrich

Eben Emael is not only the fortress, but also the bridges of Kanne, Vroenhoven and Veldwezelt. On the bridges was indeed at first a glider action, but on the same day also drop actions.
So be sure it's not only a glider action !!!

greetings

Rudi
conservator Fortress Eben Emael

Hi Rudi,

thank you much for correcting me! I have to read the books better! Grandpa didn´t told me about that, he told me of the glider landings. Hey, you have a very interesting job and i would be glad to visit your Museum somedays

Kind Regards

Ulrich

[zorreke]

Hallo

Kein Problem.Sie sind immer Willkommen.
Bitte beachten Sie mahl

21 Juni ist es wieder geöffnet und es kann immer via Reservierung.

www.fortissimus.be

Danke und Grusse
Rudi

[Stabsfeldwebel]

Hallo Rudi,

vielen Dank für den Link zu eurer Webseite!

Are you at there to meet up? I would like to see some of the places where my Grandpa fought during the WW2. And he was definately in Belgium, France the Netherlands, Italy, Sicilly, Russia and Africa. So the last two ones are difficult but i want to visit the other places.

See you!

Kind Regards

Ulrich

[fredleander]

Hallo

Kein Problem.Sie sind immer Willkommen.
Bitte beachten Sie mahl

21 Juni ist es wieder geöffnet und es kann immer via Reservierung.

www.fortissimus.be

Danke und Grusse
Rudi

Hi, Rudi - cool that you are here. I remember my first visit to Eben Emael end of the eighties. I was standing up at the fortress wall looking down at the parking lot by the main entrance when a German-licensed car pulled up and an elderly gentleman and a younger couple climbed out. He walked with a limp and supported himself on a cane. It was so obvious from his body language that he had been there before. He was pointing around with his cane, obviously telling the young people a story. Then they started climbing the wooden stairs through the heavy bushing up to the plateau. I continued on my round.

An awful lot of rabbits there.........

Fred

[zorreke]

Eben Emael

[Hi Fred

Thanks.
a lot has changed in the meantime.
I was lucky to meet some "Alte Hase" like Witzig, Mayer, etc..
But it's becoming history with good memories.
The same story of course with our own Belgian soldiers.
I was always so nice to see Belgian and German vets together, enjoying themselves.

So be welcome one day in our always changing fortress.(changing with respect)
Greetings

Rudi